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(N0-Model.)

F. W. SWIGART. PROTECTIVE BUCKLE.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. SWIGART, OF ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO T. A. DRANGA AND A. BRIEGER, OF SAME PLACE.

PROTECTIVE BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,895, dated September 12, 1.893.

Application tiled May 29,1893. Serial No. 475,882. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANKV W. SwIeART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arroyo Grande, in the county of San Luis Obispo and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Protective Buckle, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in buckles; the objects in View being to produce a buckle so constructed as to be adapted for use in harness, and particularly for employment at those portions of the harness where loops are formed that are subjected to wear, such for instance, as the bit-ring, thill loop, oto., and which by its peculiar construction will, as before stated, take the wear from the` leather thus increasing the durability of the loop, and furthermore, which may be applied to the leather portion of the loop without stitching or riveting and may be readily taken up to increase or decrease the length of the loop and repair if breaks should occur.

Other objects and advantages ofv the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loop provided with a buckle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the buckle.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the igures of the drawings.

In practicing the invention I construct an oblong buckle-frame of sufficient length from a strip of metal, or I may cast the same if so desired, and in either instance the said frame is made of substantial V-shape, or in other words is transversely bent upon itself at a point slightly to one side of its longitudinal center forming upper and lower terminals l and 2, respectively. The frame may be made open, or as shown, closed, the latter construction being preferred for the reason that itlends strength and durability, but the former may be employed when extreme lightness is desired. The upper terminal 1 of the frame near its end is provided with an opening 3, and in rear of the opening a perforation 4 in the frame is produced, the same being at the v transverse center of the frame, and in this opening there is loosely pivot-ed a tongue 5. The side-bars constituting the opening 3 are upturned, and upon the transverse end-bar of the opening the tongue 5 is adapted to lie.

In this manner a buckle frame is produced.

Immediatelyin rear of the tongue 5 there is formed upon the upper side of the terminal 1 of the framea keeper 6, the same extending 6o transversely the terminal and having its supporting ends gradually widened toward their bases, thereby lending strength.

The lower terminal 2 near its end is provided with a rectangular opening 7, thus producing a transverse end bar 8. In the production of this opening a central transverse bar 9 is formed, and the same at its center is provided with a gradually reduced outwardly disposed curved rigid stud 10. The bar 8 at 7o each side of the central stud 10 is provided with inwardly curved triangular' teeth 11, which extend into the opening 10 and beyond the plane of the same. The bar 9 it will be seen is slightly elevated or set out of the plane of the body portion of the buckle.

12 designates a strap, which it will be understood is to form the remainder of the loop, and said strap has its terminals provided with the usual perforations. One terminal of the 8o strap is passed back of the bar 8 between it and the bar 9 in front of thelatter, thence between the bar 9 and the rear end of the opening 7. The stud 10 of the bar 9 engaging with one of the adjusting holes or perforations 8 5 and being tapered and curved as shown forms a secure fastening. The teeth 1l with which the bar 8 is provided serve to retain the strap out of alignment with the buckle, so that the said strap binds at these points and is pre- 9o vented from longitudinal movement and of any consequent possible disconnection with the stud 10. The teeth also materially aid in holding the strap or assuming a portion of the strain to which it is subjected. The remaining end of the strap is passed through the buckle frame in the ordinary manner, that is passed up through the opening 3 where one of its openings or perforations is engaged by the tongue 5, the free end of the strap lying roo under the keeper 6.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that I have produced a buckle of such construction as is especially adapted for use in various portions of harness where loops are formed and subjected to Wear, whereby the durability of the harness at these points is greatly enhanced, the possibility ot' breaking reduced, adjustment may be readily obtained, leather is saved, and if a break should occur, repair may be readily made.

Having described my invention, what I claim is The herein described combined buckle and guard, the same consisting of the V-shaped body portion or plate forming the terminals 1 and 2, the former having an opening 3 adjacent to its end and in rear of the same a perforation, a tongue loosely hung in the perforation, and a keeper 6 arranged upon the outer side of the body-portion in rear of the tongue and at one side of the angle of the plate, the remaining terminal having an opening 7 adjacent to its end forming anend bar l1, the same being provided with curved pointed teeth extending inward beyond the plane of the buckle, said opening being further provided with a central transverse bar 9 slightly beyond the plane of the buckle, and provided with a central curved stud, said bar 9 being above the opening 3 and at the opposite side of the angle at which the keeper 6 is located, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK W. SW IGART.

Witnesses:

J. T. RICHARDS, CHAS. E. WING. g 

